When VM starts/running/stopped the boot unRAID video card ouput/input freezes.

 

unRAID console monitor and input fine until VMs start.

 

Bios set to boot off          =  PCI Visiontek Radeon 7000 64MB

VMs do not like this card  = 1st PCIe Slot 16x MSI GeForce GTX 460

VMs running on this card  = 2nd PCIe Slot 16x(4x mode) GT218 [GeForce 210] 

 

I would like to have proper unRAID console monitor function.

 

Does the unRAID 6.2 Beta fix this?  unRaid Beta 6.2 stable enough not to lose data?

 

unraid-diagnostics-20160417-1000.zip

I guess your VM's use Seabios and not OVMF? If you use seabios there is no way to maintain the console once the VM's have started. This is caused by VGA arbitration explained here.

So I have to set the BIOS when I install the VM?  Am I limited by AMD CPU?  I see the choices if I go to edit the VM as Q2.3 or i440.  The BIOS choice is greyed out.

 

So technically I only lost the video?  I could use the keyboard blind if my network ever locks up?

 

I.e.  hit enter a couple times then type "Powerdown" to cleanly turn off so I could reboot?

 

I installed the Powerdown app.  It seems also if I tap the Power button once, the drive activity increases and it turns off after a bit.  When I Power on, I just have to start array.

 

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So I have to set the BIOS when I install the VM?  Am I limited by AMD CPU?  I see the choices if I go to edit the VM as Q2.3 or i440.  The BIOS choice is greyed out.

 

So technically I only lost the video?  I could use the keyboard blind if my network ever locks up?

 

I.e.  hit enter a couple times then type "Powerdown" to cleanly turn off so I could reboot?

 

I installed the Powerdown app.  It seems also if I tap the Power button once, the drive activity increases and it turns off after a bit.  When I Power on, I just have to start array.

 

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You have to set OVMF or SeaBIOS at creation, yes. If you could change it, it wouldn't boot (without intervention).

You're not limited by having an AMD CPU, it shouldn't matter.

I'm pretty sure the console no longer works, blindly or not, it don't work.

When I had needed this function previously when having issues, I could have sworn it did nothing for me, but I'm willing to be wrong on this issue.

 

The 6.2B21 GUI boot option does NOT have this issue, and will stay working when another VM is started up (I'm guessing GUI boot uses OVMF, if not it is clearly magic!).

After you have created the VM you can't change between seabios and ovmf. You have to create new VM's.

 

I don't follow why you need access to the console though. You have the webgui to shutdown unraid and as you figured, pushing the power button shuts down unraid. The array can be set to start when unraid boots.

 

I haven't tested if you can still input blindly.

OVMF compatibility with video cards?  I am trying new VMs with OVMF and cannot get the display to show anything.

 

I tried an EVGA geoforce 210, no go.  This is a cheap new card some manufacturers are reusing older tech.  This card also seems to work with Seabios fine.

 

I tried a MSI 460 GTX, no go.  This card is  a few years or more old.  I don't think I ever got this one to work with Seabios.

 

Asus M5A97 R2 MB

AMD fx-6300 CPU.

 

What newer card would have a chance of working without breaking the bank?

 

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I can vouch for the Nvidia GT720 personally (730 also, (and likely the new 710) but do not own)).

Others use the AMD 6450 with good results, my 260X and 370X both work well in OVMF.

 

 

Yes I was reading elsewhere that MSI doesn't ship their cards with EFI BIOS and that you need to update BIOS.  The MSI cyclone 460 GTX has a way too big fan and heatsink.  And takes up too much room.

 

Brands to avoid?

 

 

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